MovieChat Forums > The Lifeguard (2013) Discussion > Nothing was Leigh's fault... *spoilers*

Nothing was Leigh's fault... spoilers

posted 11 years ago by Jelena555
9 replies | jump to latest

This movie is refreshing...
It has a vibe of freedom in it. Even when life serves you the worst. It gives you choices. If plan A doesn't work, there is plan B, or even a plan C. They are not great plans, but you know that life is like that and you should just keep rolling. Matt chose to die. That was a really bad decision, and I was shocked to see that happening. Many people would say it was Leigh's fault. That Jay stayed longer because of her, and Matt couldn't wait anymore, so he did what he did. No, he didn't have to do that. He could actually live that week at friend's house, or actually go to Vermont and wait for his friends.
Mel... was still young and wild deep inside, and Leigh just reminded her about that. The easiest thing is to blame someone else for your weaknesses. I personally think that she didn't belong with someone like her husband, but at least he accepted her at the end the way she is. I hated her reaction about Leigh and Jay.... a bit later about that...
Todd was great. NYC is what he actually needed. People there don't care if you're gay, or bi, or straight, or ...whatever you are. In NYC you are who you made yourself to be. You can actually be yourself and not be ashamed of it. I loved it that the character was played by Martin Starr, he's amazing.

I really loved that simple line Jay said "It's not like she rapes me or anything." He was right. I'm not a perv, or anything like that, and I don't say that this kind of "relationships" should happen on a regular basis, but hey... they both (Leigh & Jay) found what they needed at the moment. She needed that wild physical love to release herself from the pressure in the city, and he was ready for such thing also. They had deeper connection than the sex, too. One could see that from the way they were looking at each other. It wasn't just lust... If he was 2 years older, no one would give a *beep*. And Mel shouldn't have interfered, it didn't happen at school ground. But she got her lesson form Jay's dad "Keep moving or die."

Everyone was aware that Jay is young. Leigh saw that the most when they found Matt. Jay couldn't hold it together because Matt was his close friend, but also he was simply young for that kind of shock. But they didn't plan to stay together forever, it was just something strong that got them close at the moment.
This relationship although many would say "wrong", made these characters grow, get ready for the next stage, it was intermezzo for the next big thing in their lives, and I loved it.

I only didn't like Leigh's mother. She could've been less selfish and more understanding. It was not like Leigh was stuck back home for years, she just got there for a month or so, but her mother was selfish, didn't want her to ruin the life and peace she built with her husband since their daughter went to college.

Everyone can trip over something once in a while, everyone can get lost, and confused, it's not only middle age crisis... early 30s crisis is very often, too. You have job, a relationship/early stages marriage, but you aren't sure if that is IT, if that is what you want for the rest of your life... and you start questioning everything, you don't have the answers... everyone should have the right to find themselves again, to take some time, stop, reevaluate...

I give this movie 8.5/10

And yeah, amazing soundtrack.

[–] TheRebel-JimmyDean 11 years ago

Great review!

Agree with pretty much everything you said!

A really great movie and even at only 23 I completely related to Leigh's character and the whole moving back home to try and figure your life out. Feeling lost and reconnecting with old HS friends, wishing you were younger and had less responsibilities and expectations from people, etc.

Kristen Bell was really fantastic. Fell in love with her on Veronica Mars and it was great to see her in something other then a rom-com. She's a great actress with good material. Her breakdown in the forest right before she has to go tell the kid's mom he killed himself: Wow, really impressive performance. It broke my heart.

Very cool indie movie and I'll second the amazing soundtrack!

[–] Jelena555 11 years ago

Thanks a lot! I completely agree with your addition.

[–] keepcalm2842 11 years ago

You nailed it.

[–] Jelena555 11 years ago

Thanks, means a lot.

[–] blisterpeanuts 11 years ago

That first love scene with Leigh and Little Jason was hot. I wasn't sitting there thinking, "Tsk tsk, this is illegal and immoral etc." They both wanted it, they both needed it. The age difference melted away and hormones took over. Great movie. I don't understand some of these other comments like "horrible movie" -- what movie did they see? Not the same one you and I saw, apparently. Thanks for your review.

[–] ackleholic 11 years ago

Agreed. Good review. I thought the same, you put it into words.

[–] LoBo_77018 11 years ago

Question - would you have felt the same way if the roles were reversed and an adult male returned to his hometown and started getting with a high school girl? Wouldn't that make you think creepy loser?

Maybe its gender discrimination, we expect young men to figure things out - go out in the world and be a man but its endearing for a young woman to come home and give up on adulthood?

[–] blisterpeanuts 11 years ago

I think you're right -- we do have different expectations of men and women.

The thing is, I don't think Leigh would have seduced the boy on her own. She kept up that "I'm an adult and I'm going to give you advice" sort of facade right up until he grabbed her and kissed her, and it was then she discovered that this was what she really wanted--not a little brother to guide through life, but to relive her teen years and just have a carefree fling with a cute boy.

You could probably work up a story of a 29-year-old guy who's rather youthful in appearance and a 16-year-old girl who falls for him. That's an old theme in movies that's been done many times. Heck, it's culturally the norm in many parts of the world. Adult men marry 12-year-old girls in some places, even today.

But frankly, I liked it the other way around; the power balance is different, and we're intrigued by how they both handle it.

And I loved the way J's dad handled it. He needs counseling... because he got laid? I don't think so!!!

[–] Tmalva03 11 years ago

I thought their relationship was sweet! I'm not being sick here.... She was lost, he was lost and they found happiness together! I didn't feel like she targeted him but maybe I'm wrong!